Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik attended the Budget session of the Odisha Assembly for the first time in nearly two years on Friday, following strict adherence to COVID-19 norms.

Patnaik also presided over a meeting of the ruling BJD legislators party held in the Assembly premises prior to the session, where he advised Treasury Bench members on how to deal with the opposition parties' threats to attack the government over the alleged rise in poll-related violence and deteriorating law and order situation across the state.

"Any issue made by opposition members will be addressed by the government." The party will also bring up concerns such as the federal government's neglect of Odisha and the hike in the price of vital goods and petrol," said Parliamentary Affairs Minister BK Arukha. Despite the fact that Patnaik used virtual mode to attend official meetings and assembly sessions during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak, opposition members used to criticize him for not being present in the House.

On the record, Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra said that Patnaik attended sports events at Kalinga Stadium and walked along the street in front of the Assembly, but did not appear in the House.

Despite visiting numerous districts to promote the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) smart health cards ahead of the three-tier panchayat elections, the Chief Minister was criticized for not physically attending his office at Lok Seva Bhavan and the state legislature.

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